Name Resolution Service (NRS)

The Name Resolution Service (NRS) is a comprehensive service for creating, maintaining, and resolving persistent identifiers. A persistent identifier is a permanent, location-independent identifier for a network-accessible resource. Persistent identifiers are sometimes referred to as names. See NRS Introduction and Use for more information.

What is the benefit of using NRS?

Using a persistent identifier instead of a regular URL helps avoid the “404 File Not Found” problem. If a resource moves or changes the way it is accessed, the URL associated with the persistent ID is updated once while the persistent ID (used by web sites to refer to the resource) remains unchanged and valid. This is especially crucial for important resources, such as the HOLLIS Catalog, that are referenced from scores of web pages inside and outside of Harvard. Read more about what resources should be named in the NRS Introduction.

Who can use NRS?

Any Harvard organization is eligible to use NRS. Consult How to participate for more information. See the NRS Status page for a list of active authority paths and names of local NRS administrators.

How are persistent identifiers created?

Authorized staff use the NRS web-based administrative interface (called NRS Web Admin) to create persistent identifiers. For resources stored in the Digital Repository (DRS), persistent identifiers can be requested during deposit or they can be created after deposit using the DRS Web Admin interface. See the document Adding a persistent identifier [PDF] for more information.